International Women’s Day 2022

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day celebrations is ‘breaking the bias’ and it affords us a timely opportunity to look at the reasons why construction still lags behind many other sectors when it comes to gender diversity.

Across the UK, women make up around 15% of the workforce in construction and only 2% of site-based roles. However there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic that times are changing and our member companies have made it a priority to make sure the industry offers attractive career paths for women and girls.

This is what some of the women working for CECA Scotland member companies had to say about the reality of building a career in construction.

Nisha Sanghera, Trainee QS at McLaughlin & Harvey

“Being a woman in construction can sometimes be difficult because you have to work a bit harder to get your opinions across and to come across confidently. I have noticed that there are a lot more women going into construction now and there are many other young women at my university doing the same graduate apprenticeship course as me.

“I help deliver workshops as a STEM ambassador and I have also seen more and more women and girls coming along to these events to find out more about careers in construction.”

Bobi Sarah Archer, Section Engineer Barhale:

“To make engineering more attractive for women the industry really needs to focus on three main things: engagement, accessibility and inclusion. First, the industry needs to be engaging with academic institutions to try and get engineering included in the curriculum. We also need to be encouraging pupils to continue learning STEM subjects throughout their time at school.

“Secondly, it’s about accessibility and ensuring that the industry is truly accessible to women who are applying for the rules, and by reducing the unconscious bias in recruitment processes and day-to-day activities on site.

“Lastly, women need to be fully integrated into all teams so that the industry can be as innovative as possible and thrive upon diversity.”